The Moth that Hovers

We were staying at a hotel about five miles from St Remy-de-Provence in the south of France when I saw it. I was sitting at a small table having afternoon tea when I saw this creature for the first time. The plantings beside the patio were of rosemary, thyme and other herb, with a smattering of flowering plants as well. I thought at first it was a hummingbird. The antennae were the major clue that it was not a hummingbird although it “hummed” like the bird. Its wings beat seventy times per second producing the sound as well as movement, that is flight. And it can fly sideways. Unlike other moths, it flies in daylight.

I was seeing a rare creature for sure, a hummingbird hawk-moth. It is amazing how God made some creatures with a survival mechanism or if you prefer that they evolved with certain characteristics as Darwin would have said. This moth is an insect that appears to be a bird. And that characteristic helps it escape the insect feeders of nature. Its tiny wings (wingspan of about two inches) appear almost invisible as it hovers near a flower. There are actually two pair of wings! It is quite an amazing creature which feeds on the nectar of flowers. When not flying the moth’s camouflage is complete as its color  blends perfectly with tree bark. It does have discriminatory tastes and determines particular flowers by color. It uses a beak-like drinking straw which uncurls to suck out the nectar. This “drinking straw” can be an inch long or as long as one on the hummingbird hawk-moth’s wings. Once the hummingbird hawk-moth discovers a favorite feeding spot it may return to it daily at a preferred time! The honeysuckle being one of its favorites. As a boy I enjoyed the sweetness from the honeysuckle blossom. 

They hatch from eggs as green worms with white stripes. These larvae consume leaves of the plant which held the eggs of the moth. When it reaches a certain size it becomes encased in a silken cocoon. The metamorphosis takes place a the moth emerges and feasts on the leaves of it’s birthplace. The moth will live three weeks to seven months feeding on flowers and pollinating them.

My initial response that I was seeing something other than a hummingbird was correct since hummingbirds exist only in the Americas.